Daily Archives: November 23, 2014

Jim Cat (James) Scott of WVU came to La Paix yesterday to continue filming and interviewing. Bill and Aijah were here too. Bill took Jim for a peaceful walk through the woods and later Jim filed Aijah and I making mashed potatoes for dinner. The filming and interviews with me continued until 7:30 p.m. – when Jim left with boxes of my memories which I had been packing to augment his final assignment as a TV journalist at WVU.

And then the bat came into the parlor.

Jim in the log cabin kitchen – he is soooooo tall, he almost reaches the ceiling! Photo courtesy of Bill Hale. But the most amazing thing that happened was in the parlor. See bat photo next.

The bat suddenly appeared – a very large bat – black like this one pictured – in the parlor as Jim was interviewing me. We tried to get it to go out the front or side doors by closing all the other doors in the house but it wouldn’t and fluttered up the 2nd floor of the log cabin, where it suddenly laid down by my art easel. We left it alone and started interviewing again in the parlor, but heard strange noises in the kitchen. Jim went out and successfully opened the kitchen door and the bat flew out. We both wondered what it meant. See above description for what the Native Americans thought of the bat. I did not have a totem animal – but have decided this morning that the bat is my totem. Very connected.

And so I did a little research on the meaning of bats in the house. Below is the spectacular, very personal and right on information from the Native Americans.

However, the very savvy Native Americans approached the realm of animals from a position of honor – knowing that all things are connected. They understood that seeing the bat with fear in the heart would be the same as being terrified of their own children. Ridiculous.

The Native American animal symbolism of the bat comes from a keen observation of this magnificent animal. These people recognized that the bat was highly sensitive to their surroundings and so therefore was considered a symbol of intuition, dreaming and vision. This made the bat a powerful symbol for Native American shamans and medicine people. Often the spirit of the bat would be invoked when special energy was needed, like “night-sight” which is the ability to see through illusion or ambiguity and dive straight to the truth of matters.
It is a symbol of communication because the Native Americans observed the bat to be a highly social creature. Indeed, the bat has strong family ties. They are very nurturing, exhibiting verbal communication, touching, and sensitivity to members of their group.
A quick-list of Bat Animal Symbolism
• Illusion
• Rebirth
• Dreams
• Intuition
• Initiation
• Journeying
• Inner Depth
• Communication
The bat is a symbol of rebirth and depth because it is a creature that lives in the belly of the Mother (Earth). From the womb-like caves it emerges every evening at dusk. And so – from the womb it is reborn every evening.
If you have the bat as your totem you are extremely aware of your surroundings. Sometimes you can be overly sensitive to the feelings of others. Additionally, you are quite perceptive on a psychic level, and are prone to have prophetic dreams.
If you work with the bat as your totem, you will be put to the test, because it is demands only 100% commitment to spiritual growth. The bat will never accept half-hearted or lukewarm attempts at self-improvement. Indeed, if the bat senses that you are slacking in your psychic/spiritual training it will likely move on to someone else who is more willing to learn the lessons the bat has to offer.
As with most of our hardest challenges, working with the demanding bat will reap some of the most profound rewards you could ever dream of. But be warned, the bat asks a lot of us, like:
Bat Meanings for Us Personally
• Dying to our ego
• Loving our enemies as ourselves
• Going within to touch our inner demons
• Exploring the underworlds of reality (which can be scary)
• Renewing our thoughts and beliefs on a moment-to-moment basis
All of these tasks can be harrowing experiences. This is why the Native American symbolism of the bat deals with initiation; because this creature takes us to outlandish extremes. But rest assured, the bat is never leaves our side while we are journeying.
Furthermore, once we are tested to satisfaction, the devotion of the bat will never fade. It will eternally support us on our spiritual path – ever faithful and forever loving us on our journey to maintain our highest potential.
You can begin your journey with the bat by viewing the excellent 4.11 minute video from the Cave Biota evolving “webumentary.” Narrated by Dr. John O. Whitaker, video by Ravenswood Media. Informative and enriching for anyone marveled by the bat: